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Emery Already Putting His Stamp on Bears.............
Bears GM Phil Emery already putting his stamp on team
BY SEAN JENSEN sjensen@suntimes.com March 29, 2012 10:28PM
Phil Emery has been aggressive right off the bat, signing 10 players and trading for Brandon Marshall. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times
Updated: March 30, 2012 2:33AM
On Jan. 20, when the Blackhawks were hosting the Florida Panthers, a fan approached Bears chairman George McCaskey at the United Center.
“He didn’t even introduce himself, and he said, ‘My parents have been ticket holders since 1932. Get it right,’ ” McCaskey recalled. “To me, that emphasized fans’ emotional investment in the team. They want to be sure that their team is doing things the right way and making the right decisions.” (Apparently someone in the McCaskey Family is finally listening to the fans)
McCaskey wanted to tell that fan about a man he’d interviewed earlier in the day, the college scouting director of the Kansas City Chiefs.
It was Phil Emery, and he impressed McCaskey with his candor, sincerity and “innate leadership qualities.”
“I had a real strong feeling after Phil’s interview,” McCaskey said. “There was something about him.”
Emery has been on the job two months, and he hasn’t exactly eased into his rookie season as a general manager. He aggressively has chewed up more than $20 million in salary-cap space, signing 10 players to contracts and trading two third-round picks to the Miami Dolphins to land three-time Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall. (And the majority of that $$$ has gone to upgrading the offense into one that can do it's part to win games)
The latter move was immediately trumpeted, hours before free agency officially started March 13, until a report later that night alleged that Marshall punched a woman in the face at a New York nightclub.
“Phil Emery is very confident,” Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “He does his research, and he’s a ‘Cross the T’s, dot the I’s exponentially’ type of guy. He understands what the organization needs, and he’ll make moves that are well thought out.
“I believe this is indicative of where we are as team builders in this league as far as making bold, aggressive moves if we deem they’ll be impactful for our team.” Emery, though, insisted he engaged people throughout Halas Hall, even if he ultimately made the decision.
“Never make a decision in a vacuum,” Emery said. “Coaches were involved. Scouts were involved. Front office was involved.”
Bears president Ted Phillips picked Emery over four other qualified candidates and has no regrets.
“I think it’s worked really well,’’ Phillips said. ‘‘He’s jumped in with both feet. He’s a tireless worker. Great character. He’s put together a good strategy and plan that he’s going to stick to. “It’s early, but he’s raised the bar, and he’s made clear what his expectations are.”
Emery’s humble nature has pleasantly surprised Phillips. He has asserted his leadership but isn’t shy about deferring to others. For instance, Phillips said, Emery has leaned on Cliff Stein, the team’s senior director of football administration. (This is one of the first things I've noticed. He doesn't always need to be on the front page like Angelo seemed to)
“I knew he had a good work ethic, but he has the ability to know what he needs to improve on,” Phillips said, noting Emery’s lack of experience negotiating contracts, a task handled by Stein. “My sense was, he had good leadership skills, but now I’ve seen it in action.”
In fact, Emery said he has long respected Stein. When he headed to Atlanta to be the Falcons’ college scouting director, Emery used Stein’s format and outline for college free agents. “Cliff is outstanding,” Emery said. “I knew walking into this situation that, yeah, there are going to be people here who could help me.” (This pretty much tells us where the buck stops as far as the offers to Forte and others are concerned)
Emery has visited with employees throughout the organization, and he’s working to instill a group-think approach, even if there are different viewpoints. “There’s a lot of power in team, in group effort,” Emery said. “That’s my focus, wanting everyone to go in the same direction. (I don't know about others but I can already sense this change. How it effects everything in the long run we'll have to wait to see but so far so good)
“That’s how we’re going to get there, consistently in the playoffs, consistently competing for championships.”
But there are more big decisions ahead.
The Bears are still trying to sign Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte to a long-term contract, and other key players — such as defensive tackle Henry Melton and middle linebacker Brian Urlacher — enter the final year of their respective deals. In addition, coach Lovie Smith and quarterback Jay Cutler have contracts that expire in 2013.
But Emery is unfazed.
“It’s been a thrill every day,” he said. “No matter how late it is when you go to bed, when you get up in the morning, the first thought that crosses your mind is, ‘What do I need to do today to help this team reach our goal of being in a position to compete and win championships and do it in a way that our fans and everyone in our building is going to be proud of?’ (I think we finally got the right guy in charge of rebuilding this team into a consistent champion. I haven't felt this good about a GM since Halas hired Jim Finks)
“That’s what drives me.”
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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I don't think we could have asked for much more from Emery than we've gotten so far and there's always a sense of something else about to happen. That he's not quite done with the makeover yet.
Contrast this to last year and Angelo's approach. He took a couple of big swings, stuck out and then went into a defensive mode signing guys on the cheap. And when he did make a good play like picking up Okoye when the guy proved his worth as a pass rusher why didn't he make an effort to extend him last year before he became a FA? Instead he hits the streets and we probably lose a good DT.
I knew Angelo was done for after he mishandled the Kruetz deal so badly and then whined to sportswriters about doing the best he could when he missed out on improving the line before last season began. At his best Angelo was mediocre and at his worst ineffective always getting only half the job done. It was time to move on from that way of doing business and we did.
All I can say is that I've seen more positive activity our of Emery in one month than we saw out of Angelo in years. Emery plays with guts whereas Angelo always seemed to be playing it safe. Edging out a bit every now and then but pulling back before he finished the job.
I feel a whole lot better about the way the team is being run now. The proof is still to be had as far as winning goes but it sure seems to me that we're finally headed back down the right path.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman 
I don't think we could have asked for much more from Emery than we've gotten so far and there's always a sense of something else about to happen. That he's not quite done with the makeover yet.
Contrast this to last year and Angelo's approach. He took a couple of big swings, stuck out and then went into a defensive mode signing guys on the cheap. And when he did make a good play like picking up Okoye when the guy proved his worth as a pass rusher why didn't he make an effort to extend him last year before he became a FA? Instead he hits the streets and we probably lose a good DT.
I knew Angelo was done for after he mishandled the Kruetz deal so badly and then whined to sportswriters about doing the best he could when he missed out on improving the line before last season began. At his best Angelo was mediocre and at his worst ineffective always getting only half the job done. It was time to move on from that way of doing business and we did.
All I can say is that I've seen more positive activity our of Emery in one month than we saw out of Angelo in years. Emery plays with guts whereas Angelo always seemed to be playing it safe. Edging out a bit every now and then but pulling back before he finished the job.
I feel a whole lot better about the way the team is being run now. The proof is still to be had as far as winning goes but it sure seems to me that we're finally headed back down the right path.
Couldn't agree more soul. After wallowing in mediocrity for years under the "Angler" we now have a REAL GM who actually "get's it". It's amazing that JA never saw and acted on what all of us fans knew were problems. I do hope he gets some "O" AND "D" line help though.
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Originally Posted by
omc1969 Couldn't agree more soul. After wallowing in mediocrity for years under the "Angler" we now have a REAL GM who actually "get's it". It's amazing that JA never saw and acted on what all of us fans knew were problems. I do hope he gets some "O" AND "D" line help though.
He was always sensitive to criticism in the press and acted like they or we had no idea of what we were talking about. Whining to the press as he did last year when failed to upgrade the line and his arrogance when asked about the Hurd affair and he told the questioner to "go whistle" when asked how it affected his job status had a lot to do with his undoing in my opinion. The game had clearly passed him by and I'm glad Ted Phillips recognized that.
This is a "ya' snooze ya' lose" business and Jerry had been napping for last few years.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Junior Member
Originally Posted by
soulman This is a "ya' snooze ya' lose" business and Jerry had been napping for last few years.
He was hibernating. I'm glad we got someone in the position to put the right people into position so that the bears are in a good position. It starts with the GM.
Kudos to McCaskey. 
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Originally Posted by
soulman Bears president Ted Phillips picked Emery over four other qualified candidates and has no regrets.
Great read! Besides all of the stuff you put in bold, the above statement stuck out to me. Lost in all of this is that Teddy actually made a great choice! lol Like you said, we haven't seen the fruit of Emery's moves since we haven't played a single game, but so far he really seems to be doing things right. I know people on here have differing ideas about how good a job he's doing, but I don't know if anyone on here hasn't come away at least somewhat impressed with Phil's moves so far, keeping in mind that we haven't completed the draft yet. It would have been easy for Ted to go with one of the bigger names, but he did his due diligence and went with a guy that not too many of us had on our radar for most of the interview process. So, I just wanted to give Ted some kudos. Now, don't get stingy on us again, Ted!
"Give 100%. 110% is impossible. Only idiots recommend that." - Ron Swanson
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Originally Posted by
Papa Bear Great read! Besides all of the stuff you put in bold, the above statement stuck out to me. Lost in all of this is that Teddy actually made a great choice! lol Like you said, we haven't seen the fruit of Emery's moves since we haven't played a single game, but so far he really seems to be doing things right. I know people on here have differing ideas about how good a job he's doing, but I don't know if anyone on here hasn't come away at least somewhat impressed with Phil's moves so far, keeping in mind that we haven't completed the draft yet. It would have been easy for Ted to go with one of the bigger names, but he did his due diligence and went with a guy that not too many of us had on our radar for most of the interview process. So, I just wanted to give Ted some kudos. Now, don't get stingy on us again, Ted!
Well he wanted a talent scout and so far that's what we've gotten. He's been culling the FA lists for the best values he could get and I think in each and every case where he's signed someone he's achieved that. I think he got the best #2 RB and #2 QB in FA and Marshall for a 3rd and a future 3rd with that contract of his in place was a downright steal. He even brought back our own key FA's or has replaced them with other outstanding talent for the same or less money.
The offense has gotten a tremendous boost already and we've never had the kind of depth at skill positions that we have now. The line didn't get any help but there really wasn't much of any help to be had. The pickin's were slim in FA but we have two starters returning and that alone is almost like two new guys. I wouldn't rule out getting another lineman somewhere in the draft. i think that's almost a certainty.
Now if we can fill in a few gaps in the defense in the draft of later in FA this team looks a lot stronger and deeper than last years version and last years version was headed for the playoffs before Cutler went down. We've done some heavy duty catch up on our NFCN rivals already with the draft still to go. Looks to me like Emery's not gonna rest until he pulls at least even with them.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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